Songbird looks 'perfect' after Santa Ysabel victory

ARCADIA, Calif. - Songbird’s attitude and physical health matched her race record on Sunday, a day after the champion extended her unbeaten streak to six in the $101,380 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita.

“She’s perfect,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

Songbird won the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles by 3 3/4 lengths over Land Over Sea, although the margin was deceptive. Jockey Mike Smith did not urge Songbird in the last furlong. She led by six lengths with a furlong remaining.

Songbird has won five consecutive stakes, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland last October, a victory that clinched her title as the champion 2-year-old filly of 2015. The Santa Ysabel Stakes was Songbird’s second win of the year. She won the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes at a mile on Feb. 6. Her next start will be the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks on April 9.

“The biggest change is she’s stronger than she was last year,” Hollendorfer said. “She did pretty good last year, but she’s stronger.”

Hollendorfer was left impressed by Songbird’s performance in the Santa Ysabel after she was challenged by two rivals for the first half-mile before drawing away.

“They challenged her to the half-mile pole and it didn’t matter,” he said. “She handled it nicely.”

Owner Rick Porter and Hollendorfer planned to run Songbird in the Las Virgenes and Santa Anita Oaks as prep races for the $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 6. The Sana Ysabel was added to the schedule after the Las Virgenes.

Hollendorfer said the four-week gap from the Las Virgenes to Santa Ysabel followed by a five-week gap to the Santa Anita Oaks made a start in the Santa Ysabel more sensible.

“The sequence was important,” Hollendorfer said. “Some people weren’t very happy that we ran her in a Grade 3, but I thought it was better to get a race instead of working her.”